Proper Sun Care After Having a Cosmetic Laser Treatment

Lasers play a major role in cosmetic medical practice. Patients education on pre and post-laser care will help get better results and preserve their procedure. Laser treatments for cosmetic procedures include treating pigmentation, aging skin, acne, hair growth, sun damage and more. Regardless of the purpose, knowledge in post-laser care is crucial to the success and satisfaction of both the patient and the professional practitioner. The following tips are designed to help patients take care of their skin.

Post-laser care for pigmentation disorders
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) has always been effective for patients dealing with some of the pigmentation problems such as hyperpigmentation, keratosis and photodamage.

Prior care, for instance, bleaching is advised to suppress the cellular activity of the melanocytes or melanin-producing cells. This is to prevent further discoloration while treating the already existing pigmentation.

Along with the use of any pigment whiteners, the proper sun protection is necessary. Use of an SPF 30 sunscreen with broad spectrum defense is a must if the patient expects visible and long-lasting results. The must-follow advice: don’t over expose the skin to the sun 2-6 weeks after the treatment.

Post laser care for Rosacea
Chronic redness or inflammation known as rosacea can also be treated by IPL or other visible light therapies. Since lasers generally target color regardless if it’s from a tan, it is crucial to help the light target the right area by avoiding new formation of melanin.

With rosacea, bleaching is not advisable due to that added sensitivity so a heavy-duty sunscreen cannot be compromised. Another issue to consider is that some sunscreens have tendencies to irritate the skin instead of soothing it so choose the one that has gentle ingredients, preferably with anti-oxidants and natural hydrators as hyaluronic acid.

Take lots of Vitamin C and K to strengthen the skin’s lining or capillaries, thereby promoting faster skin healing and protection.

Post laser care for aging skin
One of the most in-demand lasers today are ablative and CO2 lasers for minimizing fine lines, rough, wrinkled and dry aged skin. Post-care is not just an advise, it is operative to the success of the treatment because an aged-skin has less capability to regenerate.

Keep pigment lighteners in hand to avoid the risk of hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation but it must be prescribed by the medical professional. Every product to be used after the treatment must be directed by the practitioner and usually these are the gentlest form of cleansers, ointments and sunscreens. Mature skin heals faster when it’s hydrated or moisturized or plumped with collagen so the best hydrating natural agents include hyaluronic acid and other form of emollients.

Post laser care for Acne
Oil stuck in the glands aggravates the dead skin cells. This excess buildup of skin cells and oil acts as a breeding ground for Propionibacterium acnes, which is the bacterium that causes acne. Laser light in the red to blue spectrum may be effective at killing this bacteria and decreasing the inflammation associated with it.

To soothe an acne-prone skin, gentle formulations are the skin’s best friends. Use hyaluronic acid as hydrator along with a broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen. For exfoliation, salicylic acid based agents will fend off those dead skin cells.

While lasers are pivotal to achieving a healthy and radiant complexion, its success depends on many factors. Like with any medical treatment, using the wrong products will not only hinder the results, but can also cause serious complications. Knowing to keep your skin protected from the sun after your laser treatment is the key to achieve the best outcome.